The Player

Carter Ross Mystery #5

by Brad Parks

When he hears residents of a Newark neighborhood are getting sick—and even dying—from a strange disease, investigative reporter Carter Ross dives into the story—so deep he comes down with the illness himself. With even more motivation to track down the source of the disease, Carter soon hits upon a nearby construction site. But when the project's developer is found dead, and his mob ties surface, Carter knows he's looking at a story much bigger—and with even more dangerous consequences—than an environmental hazard.

Back in the newsroom, Carter has his hands full with his current girlfriend and with the paper's newest eager intern, not to mention his boss and former girlfriend Tina Thompson, who has some news for Carter that's about to make tangling with the mob seem simple by comparison, in The Player by Brad Parks.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Thriller, Humor, Murder Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

International bestseller author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction's most prestigious prizes. His books have been translated into 16 languages and have earned starred reviews from every major pre-publication journal.

A father of two and a husband of one, Brad is a slow runner and an even slower swimmer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.

For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.

To find Brad on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/Brad_Parks.

And for Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks.

Reviews

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Can't Get Enough Carter Ross - 4 Stars

I am officially caught up on Brad Parks novels. July 7, 2015 is marked in my calendar as I eagerly awaiting the next installment. Five books into the series and Brad Parks has maintained an interesting main character, developed interesting plots and has finally shed some of the annoying carry overs from previous installments.

Plot summary

Carter Ross finds himself tangling with adult responsibilities, women and the mob in this installment. It is hard to say which one is more life threatening. When residents of the same neighborhood find themselves continually sick and facing other serious health issues, Carter believes there are some environmental causes and takes up the case. The death of a local developer derails the investigation and alienates Carter from the sick locals. Carter is able to bring all the issues together and resolve the matters in a big finish.


My Take

I don't have many new comments to say about the series. This installment is as good as most of the others in the series and if you have liked any of the other books, you are likely to enjoy this one. I will say that this installment has a felling of being a bit more sophisticated than previous installment. Yes, the quirky and snarky humour is still there but the Carter Ross seems a bit more mature. That is likely because personal issues force Carter to put on his "big boy pants". Beside Brad Parks takes this novel to focus more on the development of the character of Carter Ross. This is an element that had been missing in previous novels. We meet Carter's family, he deal with long standing (and annoying) personal issues and he comes out a more rounded and entertaining character. I think this is maturity in the author's writing and I look forward to what is to come.

Can this Book Stand Alone

So/So. I think you could read this and you would be fine without the previous novels. That said, there is a much more character building and dealing with long standing personal issues than in previous novels. I would suggest you read this one after you have read all of the others.

Final Thoughts

This is another good book in a good series. If you like you main characters to be a bit snarky, usually funny and the investigations to be outside of the regular "murder or serial killer" variety, I would strongly recommend this series.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is true; there really is a book category 'comedy-thriller'. This book is the proof. Terrific, unputdownable, racy, with a great character: Carter Ross. It is a little bit of fiction based on fact. We learn about a particular environmental hazard that if left in the soil causes severe human suffering.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't recall the first time I read a Carter Ross novel. This may be the first but it sounds so familiar ... I will have to do a bit of research there.

Nevertheless this will not be my last! I thought the author blended humor and whodunit mystery very well. Very smooth that it did not disrupt the momentum nor the underlying story.

My only complaint if it is to be a complaint is that our hero was not very heroic. The conclusion and tidy clean up was a bit disappointing but again that only negated one star from an awesome story

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There’s a notion in journalism that one of the reasons we exist is to give a voice to the voiceless. People in my business tend to forget that sometimes. But I guess I try to remember it’s part of the reason we’re here. It’s really one of our highest callings.” - Carter Ross, Investigative Reporter.

Another good one in a very good, clean, humorous series. A series in which the author picked up the Nero award, two Lefty awards and two Shamus awards.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

With author Brad Parks now making his name writing domestic thrillers, I've been forcing myself to read his Carter Ross mysteries as slowly as possible because I love them so much. Now that I've read The Player, I've only got one left, and once that's gone, I may go into mourning. This fifth book in the Carter Ross series is fun reading, full of the twists, turns, heart, and humor that I've come to expect from this talented writer.

At the heart of this book is a very real concern: "questioning the wisdom of allowing government to outsource its responsibility to protect the health of its citizens." We live in a world where not only people avoid responsibility for their actions but government, too. And this is all wrapped up in a bit of the history of Newark and its environs and a fast-paced, tightly woven mystery that has a lovely twist at the end. I love being completely bamboozled, especially by Brad Parks.

Since the heart of the mystery is so deadly serious, Parks expertly lightens the mood with his fantastic sense of humor. Neesha (AKA "Pigeon"), the new intern Carter is training, has a tendency to be the comic relief because she's still trying to follow all the rules she learned about journalism in college. Carter tries to tell her that "human beings are too messy for spreadsheets," but it takes Neesha a while to learn the wisdom of that statement.

The one thing that makes this series so entertaining is the fact that Carter Ross is just a normal, red-blooded American smart aleck, a guy who doesn't "know Chanel from chenille." He gets himself into some incredible scrapes, he truly cares about the people he writes about, and when rescuing a litter of kittens from a burning building, all he'd say would be "Aw, shucks." Carter Ross is my kind of guy, and Brad Parks' series is some of my favorite reading. If you haven't, give him a try. The first book in the series is Faces of the Gone.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a mystery reader and have not read the Carter Ross series, you must start. "The Player" is the 5th book in the series and they just keep getting better. That is saying something, since the fist book in the series "Faces of the Gone" won the Shamus Award for Best First Novel and the Nero Award for Best American Mystery. It was the first book to receive both awards. "The Player" continues the high quality of writing that Brad Parks started with "Faces of the Gone". Carter Ross is an investigative reporter for the Eagle Examiner, a newspaper in Newark NJ. The main character is smart, funny and self-deprecating. He is surrounded by a mix of other characters that add depth, breadth and more humor to each novel. Don't think the mystery or suspense are missing however, because they are not. I highly recommend this series as a whole to any mystery lover. If you can't commit to a series, then "The Player" is certainly a great one to pick up.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last week I listened to the Riley Spartz series which features an investigative tv news reporter as the protagonist.
One of the things I liked in that series was learning details about the tv news business.
This one was similar but it was a newspaper reporter instead. And similar to the Spartz series, I liked learning little details about the newspaper business.
(especially since it touched on how the internet has changed things)

Another good one. The style of this writer is to slowly develop the mystery thru the narrative.
It’s a nice change b/c I feel like I’m picking up clues/solving the problem in time w/Carter.

The main topic of this book was environmentalism & recycling which is also relevant.

I would recommend this series to people who like James Grippando who also uses relevant topics as his themes & builds up the suspense slowly over the narrative.

***FYI: This series can be read out of order***

[B Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Carter Ross book from Brad Parks. I love the character, a newspaper reporter in the digital age in the city of Newark NJ. He is funny and sarcastic, dealing with serious issues and crime in the city and the various relationships with co-workers and managers haha but he is a great investigator and always gets to the heart of the matter. Great book and I recommend the entire Carter Ross series. If you like newspaper reporter books like this (I do ), check out Bruce DeSilva book series with reporter Liam Mulligan in Providence RI. "Rogue Island" is a good one.

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might be a favorite of mine.

Yes, yes, the issue that I have with Carter Ross is still there: the stereotypes, the stupid female description (and I truly dislike the way Mr. Parks moving forward with Carter and Tina on-and-off relationship! I mean pregnancy, really?!?), and again not so much "smart thinking" on Carter part -- but after five books, I know that those are trademarks that will never go away. So I learn to accept it and judge it on the entertainment it gave me instead.

I found the mystery to be more intriguing this time -- a possibility of mysterious poisoning that involved some twists related to the financial trouble and mob(!). It was enjoyable to read. Carter surely used his resources better this time. Even if at times I also thought he was too naive for an investigative reporter.

Another element that made this book fun was Carter's family members. I loved his mom :). I wish Mr. Parks write Carter's speech for the rehearsal dinner though; I assume it would be amusing as well.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read The Player in a public place, be prepared to stifle your chuckles. One of my favorite lines: Tina gives Carter the kind of look that “people usually save for backed-up toilets.”

Newspaper reporter Carter Ross uncovers layers of trouble when he starts to investigate complaints of flu-like illness and broken bones among the residents of a small Newark neighborhood. Surely the problems are related to a construction project on the site of old factories.

The questions pile up: Who is responsible for the illnesses? Who else knows about the problem? Why is an ambulance chaser so eager to sign up victims? Where is the money coming from? And where is the money going?

And then the bodies start to pile up.

Meanwhile, Carter also juggles his relationships with two women at work, Kira the librarian and Tina the boss. Add Carter’s mother and the two interns who are helping him. Throw in a mob boss and two sets of goons.

Clever characters. Clever writing. Clever plot. The Player is the fifth in a series, each just as well written as this one. Enjoy!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parks’ books are funny, easy to read, and suspenseful. This is the fifth book in the series which started with the award-winning “Faces of the Gone.” Investigative reporter Carter Ross gets a tip that residents of a Newark neighborhood are getting ill and one even died. When he goes to talk to the residents who are experiencing the mystery illness, he too becomes ill and starts tracking down the source. Sometimes the people that populate Parks’ novels seem a little over the top (especially the women), but they do make me smile since I seem to know plenty of over the top people in real life. I really got involved with the story and enjoyed the way a reporter’s sources can lead to the truth. http://www.readamysterywithme.blogspo...

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Carter Ross, newspaper journalist
SETTING: Newark, NJ
SERIES: #5 of 5
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Carter Ross, newspaper reporter, checks out a story involving a small neighborhood where the residents are experiencing strange medical symptoms, including recurring flu and breaks. He and one of the female interns (unfortunately nicknamed "Pigeon") investigate, they both become ill as well. He suspects environmental issues caused by local construction, but everything appears kosher. The mystery isn't all that engaging, and there was far too much time spent on Carter's girlfriend issues. Add a conclusion full of coincidences and the book doesn't measure up to its predecessors.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The same characters and easy humor as the previous Carter Ross books, which was enjoyable. However, the enormous plot fail made this book nowhere near as good as the previous books in the series. I mean, if dad resented son that much, would he really sign over control of his life's work? And, anytime a writer decides to introduce a baby as a plot device and a means of creating conflict, that is when his editor needs to hold up a huge Stop sign. Hint: babies in action adventure mystery stories are annoying and boring. It shouldn't ever happen.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book club selection - a fun, fast read with good characters and an interesting story and mystery. I'm only sad it's the 5th book and I didn't start at the beginning. Adding books 1-4 to my "to read" list for sure.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter, Carter, Carter I can not wait to see what more develops between Carter & Tina!

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

light, fast read. a lot of stereotypes kicking around newark. and the initial health-related focus gets shunted aside early on in favor of a less interesting story.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read in fits and starts. I wish this guy could keep things moving toward a rewarding ending without relying on quite so many coincidences.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carter Ross is a reporter for a newspaper in New Jersey. He picks ups a story about a neighbourhood where everyone is getting sick, breaking limbs and even death. When he goes there to investigate, he too gets briefly sick which definitely makes him more interested. Before he can dig into it too much, though, he is reassigned to investigate the murder of a well-known builder, whose body was found on his construction site near the neighbourhood with the illnesses. The construction site seems to be on the up and up but is it?

In the meantime, Carter is still dating a colleague but his boss and former girlfriend has some interesting news for him.

I liked this book, and though I found it ended quickly and neatly, I didn't see the "whodunnit" coming. I enjoyed the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective in Carter's voice. As a head's up, there is swearing. I liked the characters. Carter is funny yet dorky and the other characters are colourful.

This is the fifth book in the Carter Ross series and I like this series. Despite being part of a series, this book works well as a stand alone so you don't need to read the others to enjoy this one as there is enough background provided.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/08...

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parks’ fifth offering in his Carter Ross series has the investigative reporter of the Newark Eagle-Examiner responding to a call from a young African American woman, Jackie Orr. The medical student is concerned about mysterious illnesses that killed her grandmother and made 20 or more of their inner-city neighbors desperately ill. Ross’ inquiries has him suspect that the illnesses are due to some sort of toxic waste being released from a nearby construction project that has been marketed to the city as a means to bring high-rise luxury and much-needed jobs to the community.

Ross makes inquiries regarding McAlister Arms, the mammoth new construction project and meets with Vaughn McAlister, who along with his father, Barry, heads McAlister Properties. Shortly thereafter, Vaughn is found beaten to death, and the paper wants him to focus his attention on who may have killed the developer. What he finds is a tangled web of commercial interests, political corruption and even organized crime. Oh, and Vaughn’s person life was a mess as well—there is his hard-drinking father, an angry ex-wife and a scheming mistress.

Ross’ own life is a bit of a mess as well. He seems to find himself in confusing romantic entanglements and answerable to his well-meaning, but nosy, mother. There is plenty of fodder for Parks’ to provide his wonderful quips of humor. Enjoy!

[LInda L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really into the beginning of the book -- really the first half -- then it got a bit tiresome in the middle and picked up again toward the end. Really liked Tommy, Pigeon, and some of the less important characters. Carter seemed kind of off at times, but figured stuff out when it counted. This was my first Carter Ross and I wish I had read them in order, but SAY NOTHING had me so jazzed to read more Brad Parks I couldn't wait. And this was the only other one my library had on the shelf. I was a bit perturbed that cadmium poisoning was kind of pushed to the far back of anyone's interest, but it still pretty much worked without it. Am looking forward to the rest of the C.R. series, as well as another stand-alone. Great sense of humor. Great writing.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped about 100 pages from the end because I was simply bored with this book. Normally, stopping short of an ending would drive me crazy, but in this case, I didn't care. I will say that this book has plenty of good one-liners and humorous comebacks, and it started out interestingly enough with Carter Ross, the reporter, investigating a mysterious illness that plagues a small New Jersey town. Unfortunately, that plot quickly gets pushed aside while Carter investigates a mob hit that may or may not have anything to do with the mysterious illness, and deals with his own boring girlfriend problems, one after another. What a shame because the writing was fairly good.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this 5th book of the series, newspaper investigative reporter Carter Ross discovers that residents of a local neighborhood are getting sick, and even dying, from a strange disease. He and an intern both become ill while investigating. The deaths of two men involved in the construction site that may be the source of the disease are also revealed and impact the story. Carter's complicated family relationships are also a factor as his sister plans her wedding, and Carter ends up with 2 dates for the event. This was another enjoyable read with the author's unique brand of humor. The personal information included about the main character add interest to the mystery.

[William Nist · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the penultimate volume in the Carter Ross series, and in my mind, the weakest (although still amusing).

The plot involves a land development deal gone sour, with a pretend death, and an unlikely rescue. Very little of this was believable. The rescue, as the final scene, was laughable...although not intended to be. His mother summoned a swat team that just happened to be in the neighborhood because he was late for a wedding. Yikes.

I am seeing Carter begin to settle down, as his one time hookup, is now pregnant with his child, and both want to raise the kid.

I like Carter's personae, and am still going to read the last of this series at the end of the month.

[Pat Dedert · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I could ask for in a mystery! Hard to guess the villain, lots of humor, believable characters, and suspense. To top it off, it takes place in New Jersey, on roads and towns I know, writing for a paper I read (thinly disguised), and revealing (probably real) Jersey foibles in state government. I like this series a lot and hope it continues.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is always interesting and I learn something new.

This case involves real estate and the poison in the soil needing to be remediated before construction.

Carter is a very likeable character and he is thrown for a loop with Tina's surprise.

I enjoy the humor in this series and look forward to the next one.

I borrowed a copy from the public library.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entertaining read from Brad Parks, once again featuring news reporter Carter Ross, his two gal pals, Tina and Kira, and something awry in the city of Newark. Something is poisoning the population near the freeway and Carter starts out trying to uncover the source and, accidentally, steps into a hornet’s 🐝 nest.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carter Ross, Newark reporter, encounters multiple complications both personal and professional when he learns of a series of mysterious illnesses in a working-class neighborhood. This is an excellent entry in a great series.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am officially a Brad Parks/Carter Ross fan! Thanks to my Mystery Book Club, I started the series. Carter Ross is an investigative reporter who takes risks for his stories. This book involves a neighborhood whose inhabitants and workers are very sick. Is it the environment, big business, or?

[Diana Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carter Ross is a news reporter who is very tenacious. Mysterious illness, shifty lawyers, businesses going under. Carter can’t help but look deeply into an issue. He, at times gets into trouble, but happily things turn out just fine.